Alex Cuthbert has revealed how his Wales ambitions played a big part in his decision to stay with the Cardiff Blues.

Alex Cuthbert has revealed how his Wales ambitions played a big part in his decision to stay with the Cardiff Blues.

The Grand Slam winger has bucked the trend of Welsh stars heading for France by signing a new three year deal with the Arms Park outfit.

And, speaking as he was officially presented to the media following his decision to stay at the region, Cuthbert said he feels remaining with the Blues can only benefit his international career as he looks to build on his sensational first year in the Test arena.

The likes of Gethin Jenkins, Mike Phillips, James Hook, Lee Charteris and Lee Byrne have all suffered through being based across the Channel in terms of missing out on selection with Wales.

Their lack of availability for training camps and certain Test matches has counted against them all to one degree or another.

“Being closer to the Wales environment is only going to help my game,” he said.

“I want to play for Wales. I want to get as many caps as possible.

“That’s my main aim, to keep playing for Wales. And obviously playing for the Blues is only going to help that.

“The boys out in France are having to catch quite a few flights to get back over here.

“It’s only 20 minutes from training now where I’m living. It’s just easy. I’m in my comfort zone.

“I am just looking forward to the next couple of years now.

“Hopefully I can progress my game and achieve my ambitions.”

He added: “Obviously I only signed for the one year at the end of last season and I have been thinking about it since then really.

“I know a lot of players have left, but, deep down, I always wanted to stay and I’m glad I’ve done this deal and I’m staying.

“I am only 22 and in three years time I’ll still only be 25.

“The people who have decided to move away are 25, 26.

“For me to move away just didn’t make sense really. I’m comfortable here. I love being in Cardiff,

“I don’t have to worry about anything for three years now, which is a lot of weight off my mind.”

Cuthbert has shown creditable loyalty in staying with the Blues who gave him his big chance at the start of last season when he was a virtual unknown outside of the Sevens circuit.

“I’ve got a good bunch of friends. I’ve just bought a new house as well,” he revealed.

“I am happy here and it just didn’t feel right to move away.

“I love playing at the Arms Park. We have got a great set of fans.

“It’s been tough because we haven’t won many games this year.

“But I’m buying into the fact that we are going to progress and get better.

“We have got such a young team. You saw at the weekend out in Montpellier, every player on the field at one point was under 25.”

With his future settled, Cuthbert can now focus purely on his rugby and there’s plenty to play for, with a Six Nations title to defend and a Lions tour of Australia to shoot for.

“I just want to play well for the Blues and then hopefully get in the Six Nations squad and have a good championship,” he said.

“You never know what can happen then.

“Obviously it’s every rugby player’s dream playing for the Lions.

“It will take a lot of hard work to get into that squad and into Warren Gatland’s side.

“There’s a lot of rugby to go before then and I just have to knuckle down and play well.

“To get selected for the Lions would be my main goal.

“But just playing well for the Blues and Wales is my first priority.”

Giving his views, Blues chief executive Richard Holland commented: “When Alex pulls on that Blues jersey, he does it with pride and passion and we are delighted to have secured his services for another three years.

“I think he thought long and hard and looked at all the offers available to him and spoke to people in the Welsh camp as well as the Blues camp.”

Cuthbert’s decision is all the more welcome for Holland in the wake of Jamie Roberts opting to head for Parisian outfit Racing Metro.

“It’s difficult seeing all these guys disappearing off to France and it’s nice to have one stick around and stay with us,” he said.

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